Atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini Treatment & Management

  • Author: Anne Elizabeth Laumann, MBChB, MRCP(UK), FAAD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 12, 2011
 

Medical Care

No treatment is consistently effective, but some patients respond to topical corticosteroids, antibiotics, or antimalarials.

Results of medical treatment with antibiotics have been inconclusive. In patients with new early-stage idiopathic atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini, especially those with a positive B burgdorferi antibody titer, the standard recommended therapy for Lyme disease is suggested. A retrospective evaluation of 25 patients treated with oral penicillin (2 million IU/d) or oral tetracycline (500 mg 3 times/d) for 2-3 weeks showed clinical improvement with no new active lesions in 20 patients. The same study also showed no progressive disease in 4 of 6 patients who did not receive treatment.

Anecdotal reports have described beneficial treatment with the use of hydroxychloroquine[12] and potassium aminobenzoate.

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Surgical Care

Surgical treatment has generally not been helpful in improving the appearance of the atrophied skin.

Arpey et al[13] showed the Q-switched alexandrite laser (755 nm) to be effective in diminishing the hyperpigmentation by 50% after 3 treatments in one case.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Anne Elizabeth Laumann, MBChB, MRCP(UK), FAAD  Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine

Anne Elizabeth Laumann, MBChB, MRCP(UK), FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Professors of Dermatology, British Association of Dermatologists, Chicago Dermatological Society, Chicago Medical Society, Illinois Dermatological Society, Illinois State Medical Society, Illinois State Medical Society, Medical Dermatology Society, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Abbott Grant/research funds Other; Regeneron Grant/research funds Other; Centocor Grant/research funds Other; OSI Grant/research funds Other; Celgene Grant/research funds Other; Lilly Grant/research funds Other

Coauthor(s)

Neelam Vashi, MD  Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, New York University Medical Center

Neelam Vashi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, American Medical Association, and Indian American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Peter Fritsch, MD  Chair, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Innsbruck, Austria

Peter Fritsch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Dermatological Association, International Society of Pediatric Dermatology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lester F Libow, MD  Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory

Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Glen H Crawford, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital

Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Dr. Richard H. Musgnug, author of the previous edition of this article.

References

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Early lesion demonstrating diagnostic "cliff-drop" border to atrophy. Courtesy of Joe Eastern, MD.
Older lesion showing typical pigmentation and classic "cliff-drop" border. Courtesy of Joe Eastern, MD.
 
 
 
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